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Off the Field with Polo Prodigy Nic Roldan

When he’s not saddled up on the polo field or charming the hell out of women across Manhattan, Nic Roldan, the youngest dude ever to win the U.S. Open Polo Championship, is also a model, recently signed with Wilhelmina. We caught up with him on a recent go-see at our GQ offices to find out how a guy a like him started posing for the camera, what it means to have American style, and how he’ll be staying cool this summer.

It’s not that I want to model, specifically, but modeling as a pro polo player will give more exposure to a sport that many in America aren’t familiar with yet. Tennis and golf were seen as "elite" back in the day—and look how that turned out.

You’ve got a very all-American look—something you’d expect from the best polo player in the U.S.—what do you wear off the field?

You can always find me in jeans and a white t-shirt.

Any favorite designers? Can we assume you live in Ralph?

Yes, I live in Ralph Lauren. I also like John Varvatos and G-Star—I always keep things classic, clean, and simple.

You’re playing a lot of matches this summer—the Mercedes-Benz Polo Classic in the Hamptons and the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic. What are you going to be doing on the weekends?

I’ll mostly be checking out other events in the Hamptons, but I’ll of course be playing polo every Saturday.

One last thing: White jeans are the staple of every polo uniform, and something we at GQ really get behind. Any advice for our readers on the best way to pull them off year round (without the riding boots and knee-pads)?

Do it with riding boots while attending a polo game, and you’re a loser in my book! But anybody can pull off the white jeans look—just make it casual, fun and unpretentious.

_To see Nic in action, head out to Governor’s Island for the 2010 Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic, taking place Sunday, June 27th. Once again, Roldan will be captaining Prince Harry’s charity’s team, Sentebale, and hoping for a repeat victory over fellow polo-player-slash-model Nacho Figueras and his Black Watch team. Limited numbers of VIP tickets are on sale now at www.vcseason.com. _